St. Francis de Sales Funeral Information Form Name of Deceased Date of birth Date of death Family Contact Person Address Phone # Relationship Phone Email 2nd Family Contact Relationship Phone Email Name of Funeral Home Director s Name Phone # Viewing/Vigil/Prayer Service Date: Viewing Y/N Time of viewing: Vigil/Prayer Service Y/N Time of Vigil/Prayer Service: Presider of Service: Funeral Mass OR Funeral Ceremony? Place: Date: Time: Presence of a Body Y/ N Presence of Cremains Y/N Pallbearers (up to six people)
READINGS: Old Testament Reading: Reader: New Testament Reading: Reader: Gospel Reading: Gift Bearers for bread and wine: MUSIC: Entrance: Offertory: Communion: Recessional: Funeral luncheon Yes No # expected to attend (please be realistic about numbers. Our volunteers prepare the food in their homes at their own expense and we sometimes find people overestimate the number likely to attend. A donation to help defray costs is always welcome). Location of Burial Keep these details with your Will and other important documents. Let your Executor and family know that you have written down your arrangements.
Readings At A Catholic funeral liturgy the readings are always taken from the Scriptures. Poems and secular works cannot be included. For those wishing to have non Sacred works recited from the appropriate time would be during visiting hours at the funeral home, or after the service at the graveside has ended. Old Testament 1. I know that my Redeemer lives: Job 19:1, 23-27 2. He accepts them as a Holocaust: Wisdom 3:1-9, or 3:1-6,9 3. A Blameless Life Is A Ripe Old Age: Wisdom 4:7-15 4. The Lord God Will Destroy Death Forever: Isaiah 25: 6. 7-9 5. It Is Good To Wait In Silence For The Lord God To Save: Lamentations 3:17-26 6. Of Those Who Lie Sleeping In The Dust Of The Earth Many Will Awake: Daniel 12:1-3 7. It Is Good And Holy To Think Of The Dead Rising Again: 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 New Testament 1. God Has Appointed Jesus To Judge Everyone, Alive Or Dead: Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 or 10:34-36. 42-43 2. Having Been Justified By His Blood, We Will Be Saved From God's Anger Through Him: Romans 5:1-11 3. Where Sin Increased, There Grace Abounded All The More: Romans 5:17-21 4. Let Us Walk In Newness Of Life: Romans 6:3-9 or 6:3-4. 8-9 5. We Groan While We Wait For The Redemption Of Our Bodies: Romans 8:14-23 6. Who Can Ever Come Between Us and the Love Of Christ?: Romans 8:31-35. 37-39 7. Whether Alive Or Dead, We Belong To The Lord: Romans 14:7-9. 10-12 8. All People Will Be Brought To Life Through Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:20-24. 25-28 9. Death Is Swallowed Up In Victory: 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 10. What Is Seen Is Transitory; What Is Unseen Is Eternal: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1. 6-10 11. We Have An Everlasting Home In Heaven: 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10 12. Our Citizenship is in heaven: Philippians 3:20-21 13. We Shall Stay With The Lord For Ever: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 14. If We Have Died With Him, Then We Shall Live With Him: 2 Timothy 2:8-13 15. We Shall See God As He Really Is: 1 John 3:1-2 16. If We Have Passed From Death To Life, Because We Love Our Brothers And Sisters: 1 John 3:14-16 17. Happy Are Those Who Die In The Lord: Revelation 14:13 18. The Dead Have Been Judged According To Their Works: Revelation 20:11-21:1 19. There Will Be No More Death: Revelation 21:1-5. 6-7
Gospel Readings 1. The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12 2. Come To Me...And I Will Give You Rest: Matthew 11:25-30 3. Look The Bridegroom Comes. Go Out To Meet Him: Matthew 25:1-13 4. Come, You Whom My Father Has Blessed: Matthew 25:31-46 5. Jesus Gave A Loud Cry And Breathed His Last: Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-6 or 15:33-39 6. Young Man, I Say To You, Arise: Luke 7:11-17 7. Be Prepared: Luke 12:35-40 8. Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise: Luke 23:33, 39-43 9. Father, I Put My Life Into Your Hands: Luke 23:44-49; 24:1-6 or 23:44-49 10. Was Is Not Necessary That The Christ Should Suffer And So Enter Into His Glory?: Luke 24:13-35 or 24:13-16, 28-35 11. Whoever Hears My Word And Believes Has Passed From Death To Life: John 5:24-29 12. All Who Believe In The Son Will Have Eternal Life And I Will Raise Them To Life Again On The Last Day: John 6:37-40 13. All Who Eat This Bread Will Live For Ever And I Will Raise Them Up On The Last Day: John 6:51-58 14. I Am The Resurrection And The Life: John 11:17-27 or 11:21-27 15. Lazarus, Come Out: John 11:32-45 16. If A Grain Of Wheat Falls On The Ground And Dies, It Yields A Rich Harvest: John 12:23-28 or 12:23-26 17. There Are Many Rooms In My Father's House: John 14:1-6 18. Father, I Want Those You Have Given Me To Be With Me Where I Am: John 17:24-26 19. Jesus Bowed His Head And Gave Up His Spirit: John 19:17-18, 25-30
MUSIC The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord s suffering, death, and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture. (Order of Christian Funerals 30) All funeral music is thus focused on the worship of God and thus, popular non-liturgical songs or recordings are not to be used in the funeral rites. Dr. Christopher Urbiel, Director of Music, and Fr. JCP Sullivan, Parish Priest, will ensure that the music of the funeral Mass is as beautiful as possible while also following the directive given above. As such, all music choices are suggestions until reviewed and approved by them. Guest clergy and musicians cannot give approval of music. Dr. Urbiel will serve as the organist for the Funeral Mass, and will direct the St. Cecilia Choir, which provides musical leadership at each parish funeral. Additional vocal soloists and/or instrumentalists must be discussed with Dr. Urbiel in advance so that rehearsal time can be arranged. Soloists do not sing the hymns or musical responses during Mass, which are sung by the choir and congregation together. St. Francis de Sales Parish always provides a cantor for the Responsorial Psalm. Solo music, then, is reserved for the Prelude before the Mass, or during the Offertory or Communion. Suggestions for music are given below. Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are not used during the season of Lent because they contain Alleluia, which is an acclamation reserved for the other seasons of the year. All of the hymns below will be appropriate for most of the funeral readings; however, hymns with a connection to particular Scriptures are noted. Options for the Entrance Hymn or Offertory Hymn (choose one for each category) 631 The King of Love My Shepherd Is (St. Columba) this is a paraphrase of the 23 rd Psalm 658 Keep in Mind (Deiss) 586 Amazing Grace (New Britain) 596 Be Not Afraid (Dufford) related to Gospel reading #2 721 Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (Temple) 603 There s a Wideness in God s Mercy (In Babilone) 463 At the Lamb s High Feast We Sing (Salzburg)* 791 For All the Saints (Sine Nomine)* 790 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (Laast uns erfreuen)* 442 Sing With All the Saints in Glory (Hymn to Joy)* 520 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Hymn to Joy) 587 How Firm a Foundation (Foundation) 826 Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol)* 489 Crown Him with Many Crowns (Diademata) 454 I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Duke Street) related to Old Testament reading #1 560 Lord of All Hopefulness (Slane) related to Old Testament reading #5
588 O God Our Help in Ages Past (St. Anne) related to Old Testament reading #3 492 To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King (Ich Glaub an Gott) 459 The Strife is O er (Victory)* - related to New Testament reading #9 Options for music at the Offertory (choose one) OPTION 1: HYMN (as selected from list above) OPTION 2: VOCAL SOLO: Ave Maria (Schubert) OPTION 3: Meditative organ music selected by the Director of Music Options for the Communion Hymn (choose one) 542 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Picardy) last verse not used during Lent 809 I Received the Living God (Living God) 816 You Satisfy the Hungry Heart / Gift of Finest Wheat (Bicentennial) 822 I Am the Bread of Life (Toolan) related to Gospel readings #12 and #13 826 Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol)* 593 On Eagles Wings (Joncas) Options for the Recessional Hymn (choose one) 586 Amazing Grace (New Britain) 463 At the Lamb s High Feast We Sing (Salzburg)* 791 For All the Saints (Sine Nomine)* 790 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (Vigiles et Sancti)* 442 Sing With All the Saints in Glory (Hymn to Joy)* 520 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Hymn to Joy) 587 How Firm a Foundation (Foundation) 826 Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol)* 489 Crown Him with Many Crowns (Diademata) 454 I Know that My Redeemer lives (Duke Street) related to Old Testament reading #1 588 O God Our Help in Ages Past (St. Anne) 492 To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King (Ich Glaub an Gott) 459 The Strife is O er (Victory)* - related to New Testament reading #9 783 Immaculate Mary (Lourdes Hymn) in honor of the Blessed Mother 784 Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above (Salve Regina Coelitum) in honor of the Blessed Mother
Eulogy Catholics believe that at death "Life is changed, not ended." Death is a passage to a new and fuller life, and ultimately to resurrection and eternal union with God. The Church emphasizes life in the funeral liturgy. The resurrection is the theme and the readings, hymns, and prayers reflect the overall tone of expectant joy. During the Catholic funeral we gather to pray for the repose of the soul of the one who has died, and to ask that God will strengthen and console family and friends. The priest or deacon is the principal Presiders of this sacred action between God and humanity, as we pray for the beloved departed and for ourselves. The Funeral Mass is offered in intercession for the deceased person because we believe that God hears our prayers for the forgiveness of the sins of our deceased loved ones. We know that we are not alone, but are supported by God's grace, by the community here on earth and by the communion of saints. At the funeral, we derive strength from our Christian faith, which provides the true consolation we find in the resurrection of Jesus, our source of hope in times of sorrow. Our attention is centered on Jesus, who speaks to us through the Scriptures, and who comes to us in the Holy Eucharist in our time of grief. Under our current policies it is not our normal practice at St Francis to have eulogies during the funeral mass. We understand that for some non-catholic believers the funeral is primarily a time for remembrance and celebration of a person's life. For Catholics, however, the focus is different. We believe we are called to offer intercession for the person who has died as they transition to eternal union with God this is the central focus of the funeral liturgy. For this reason, a eulogy is not best suited to the Catholic Funeral Mass. A better place for the eulogy is the Vigil Service on the night before the Funeral at the funeral home. Here, the family, called together by shared memories, sorrow and prayer, are in a more informal setting. This makes it easier for one or more persons to speak and to reminisce about the life of the loved one that they have lost. Family and friends are gathered more intimately and can console one another as they share cherished memories. Please plan to have the eulogy shared during this time at the funeral home. Funeral Ceremonies and Symbols The Catholic Funeral Mass emphasizes our faith in Jesus' victory over death and our hope in resurrection, even as we mourn our temporary separation from a loved one. We believe that death is not the end, but the beginning of a perfect, permanent life with Christ in heaven. Through the many ceremonies and symbols that are part of our faith, we find hope in the midst of our tears. In order to help make the funeral liturgy more consoling and understandable, we have provided some explanations of these parts of the liturgy. The Priest's Vestments Since we are celebrating our loved one's entrance into everlasting life and sharing in Christ's victory over death, the clergy normally wears the color white, which is associated with resurrection and used at Easter, weddings, baptisms and other joyous events.
Scripture Passages You may select three passages from the Bible : one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from the Gospels. Please see the Funeral Scripture Reading section to make your selections. The Easter or Paschal Candle The Easter candle is lit to symbolize the light of the risen Christ and our belief that He has conquered the darkness of sin and death. This candle stands in the sanctuary space to greet the body and remind us that our loved one, through his or her death, shares in the victory of Jesus over these powers of darkness. Sprinkling of the Casket We share in the Lord's death and resurrection through the waters of our baptism. The same cleansing waters of baptism, that made us sons and daughters of God and filled us with the Holy Spirit, are sprinkled over the deceased to remind us the grace and hope that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord and God's power of our mortal and flawed nature. Presentation of the Gifts Family and friends are encouraged to bring the bread and wine to the altar at the Funeral Mass. This action symbolizes that we are saying "Lord, we give our loved one back to you. We accept your will and we trust in you." Special symbolic items such as a familiar rosary, a cross, a special picture, or a token of the loved one s life or vocation may also be placed on a small table before or near the altar. Holy Communion What more perfect way to share in the Funeral Mass than to receive Holy Communion. The words of Jesus "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal and I will raise him on the last day" recall our hope for eternal life in Christ. Placing of the Pall The funeral pall points back to the white garment given us at our Baptism and symbolizes our life in Christ. It is draped over the coffin at the beginning of the liturgy, usually by family members. Final Commendation and Committal The last ceremony after the Funeral Mass and at the cemetery is a liturgy of final farewell or commendation and committal. Many times, this is the most difficult time for the family and friends because it is a final good-bye to one we have loved through life. This is more than an end; it is a beginning of our loved one's eternal life in Christ. The holy burial place of our loved one also offers a sacred place to return, visit, and offer our prayers. Cremation As a Catholic may I be cremated? Yes. The Church's definite preference is for burial of the body. However, since 1963 cremation has been permitted, although the cremated remains were not allowed to be present during the funeral mass. In 1997 the Vatican gave the bishops of the United States permission to allow the celebration of the funeral mass with the cremated remains present, provided the local bishop permits it.
Cremation When should cremation take place? The church strongly prefers that cremation take place after the full funeral liturgy with the body. The presence of the body most clearly brings to mind the life and death of the person and better expresses the values that the Church affirms in its rites. This is the body once washed in Baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed with the Bread of Life. This is the body whose hands clothed the poor and embraced the sorrowing.... Thus, the Church's reverence and care for the body grows out of reverence and concern for the person whom the Church now commends to the care of God.... However, when the circumstances prevent the presence of the body at the funeral liturgy...it is appropriate that the cremated remains of the body be present for the full course of the funeral rites, including the Vigil for the Deceased, the Funeral Liturgy, and the Rite of Committal. Careful Handling and Proper Interment of Cremated Remains What is the proper container for cremated remains? Appropriate, worthy containers (not necessarily expensive) such as a classic urn are proper for the cremated remains. At the present time the U.S. Bishop's Committee on the Liturgy has determined only what is not a proper container. Although jewelry, dishes, statuary and space capsules are examples of designer containers now being offered, they are unacceptable in Catholic funeral practices. It is also unacceptable to have cremated remains made into jewelry, dishes and the like. Must cremated remains be buried/entombed? Yes. Respectful final disposition of cremated remains involves interment or entombment. Burial options include a family grave in a cemetery marked with a traditional memorial stone or an urn garden, a special section in a cemetery with small. pre-dug graves for urns. May I scatter the cremated remains? No. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires. (Order of Christian Funerals, Appendix II #417) Burial at sea of cremated remains differ from scattering. An appropriate and worthy container, heavy enough to be sent to its final resting place, may be dropped into the sea. (See Order of Christian Funerals, #406.4) Please consult your local government for environmental regulations. May anything be added to cremated remains such as the cremated remains of other persons, pets, other objects? The principle of respect for the cremated remains of a deceased Christian embraces the deeper belief in the individuality of each baptized person before God. Throughout history, the mingling of remains has never been an accepted practice, except in extraordinary circumstances.